The Eleventh Moon

'Twas in the eleventh moon I went
 * wool gathering in the dim,

Near by me was a lover lad
 * and the sweetness was on him.

Lightly his eyes went to the east
 * and he with joy was dumb,

His sweet love walked a miracle
 * out of the moonlight come.

Oh, but he was the fine lover!
 * with a lover's thirsting eye:

—When two hearts beat the tune is sweet
 * and knows not how to die.

Her laugh it was the rainbow's laugh
 * delicious to the land,

And she gave to him for close loving
 * her little silken hand.

Her face was made of Summer thought
 * joined with the giddy Spring:

Gently I said, O heart, she is
 * too heavenly a thing.

The moon did seem as music spilled
 * upon her spotless gown,

And at her height of happiness
 * the summer tear came down.

Night—and the silence honey-wet:
 * the moon came to the full:

It was a time for gentle thought
 * and the gathering of wool.